Top-Rated VPNs (In a Nutshell)

Things to Consider When Choosing a VPN

For many years, Russia enjoyed fairly open and free internet, but that has been changing in recent times. More and more regulations and censorship mechanisms have been put into place by the government to block access to particular sites, apps, or services.

Since 2012, more and more websites and apps have found themselves restricted from use inside Russia.

The most recent victim in the destruction of Russian internet freedom is the popular messaging app, Telegram. Just this past April, it took less than 20 minutes for a judge to side with the government in their request to block citizen’s access to this app.

The court even went so far as to allow the banning of 18 million IP addresses in response to the attempt by Telegram to bypass restrictions using a number of different IP addresses.

Many expect trends like this to continue, seeing further curtailing of internet freedom and the ability to visit the sites they want or the apps they use simply because on lives on Russian soil with rumors of the attempt to build a highly sophisticated internet firewall similar to what China possesses.

With a solid VPN, it’s possible to get around these restrictions and blocks, allowing you to safely and securely access what you want, when you want, safe from the prying eyes of the government.

There are a number of things to consider when choosing the best VPN provider for you, and they are not all created equal.

Basic needs

The first thing you are going to want to do is think about your basic needs. What do you use your devices for? What kind of protection do you need? Are you looking for enhanced security or enhanced features for getting around blockers and censorship mechanisms?

The answers to all of these questions will help guide you in finding which service will work best for your needs.

Next, you want to think about the different devices you plan to use the VPN with. Not all service providers support all systems. There are some that work across platforms such as Windows, Android, and iOS, and others that work with just a single type of system.Safe torrenting in Russia

It is important to make sure that all your devices will be supported with the service you choose.

Geo-shifting is one of the more attractive features of a VPN and if this is what you are looking to do, you will want to look into where the servers of a potential VPN provider are located as this is where it will appear that you are located.

There are a variety of types of encryption that are more or less vulnerable to third party hackers and software trackers.

When looking for a good Russian VPN, you want to look deeply into customer reviews so you can get a clear, accurate picture of what your user experience may be like and get information about possible weaknesses in the encryption code used by a particular VPN provider.

Higher rates of encryption tend to be more secure, and if possible, it’s recommended to look for 256-bit encryption.

It is also helpful to look into supported protocols. OpenVPN is one of the most current and versatile protocols and it is recommended to look for a service provider that relies upon this protocol. A lot of service providers use a number of different protocols in conjunction – such as PPTP, L2TP, and more.

The more protocols supported the more confident you can be across systems and devices.

Choose a Reliable Virtual Private Network in Russia

1. NordVPN

NordVPN is a trusted and reputable VPN service provider that has a number of servers on Russian soil, including those with P2P support, as well as other servers spread throughout the world.

They boast over 4,440 servers located in over 62 countries, giving users access to high speeds and access across six devices at a time.

The biggest perk of this service is the ease of use and the affordable price. It is one of the more affordable VPN providers, that give you a good mix of value and performance. They use the latest in security protocols helping to ensure the continued security of your data and internet usage.

The biggest complaints associated with this service is that there aren’t as many setting options as many users would like to see.

Cons

2. ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN is one of the most trusted and well known VPN providers known for their high quality, safe, secure, and fast performing networks.

It is a popular and affordable service that is easy-to-use, featuring a number of servers in Russia. They boast over 1,700 servers located in 94 countries and can and can be used on three devices at a time.

The biggest complaint associated with this VPN provider is that there aren’t as many remote servers as some of the competition.

There are also some complaints that you are only able to use three devices per license, as competing services often allow as many as six devices per license. It is also one of the pricier services reviewed here.

The service has a variety of features for enhanced security. It boatst 25,000 different IP addresses, as well as including a kill switch.

The service keeps no logs of data, further ensuring total security. The service is well suited for streaming video such as Netflix, Hulu, or YouTube and is a great work around for geo-restricted services.

Cons

3. CyberGhost VPN

CyberGhost VPN is a fast, affordable, and reliable VPN service that is easy to use.

The service ensures totally private online browsing, data sharing, and content viewing. It allows you to easily bypass any restrictions or filters that are designed to disallow you from visiting certain sites.

The service works across different systems, from Android, Windows, and iOS. They utilize the native iPhone encryption, IKEv2, or OpenVPN for other devices. With 256-bit encryption, your data is secure even over wi-fi networks and your data is never logged by CyberGhost. They boast over 2,000 servers in over 60 countries.

The biggest perk of this service is the ease of use and the affordable price. It is one of the more affordable VPN providers, that give you a good mix of value and performance. They use the latest in security protocols helping to ensure the continued security of your data and internet usage.

The biggest complaints associated with this service is that there aren’t as many setting options as many users would like to see.f

Cons

4. Ivacy VPN

Ivacy VPN is a great all-purpose VPN service provider that does a great job at providing a solid blend of performance and value.

The company provides safe, secure, fast, and reliable connections from over 450 remote servers located in some 100+ countries. With Ivacy, you can securely browse on five different devices at a time.

The company features two Moscow-based servers. They have a variety of native apps for both desktop and mobile devices. They use Open VPN, PPTP, SSTP, L2TP, and IKEv2 security protocols, ensuring that your connection is incredibly secure, as well as a 256-bit data encryption.

The service features a kill switch, secure DNS, and switch tunneling.

This is an excellent service for beginners and advanced users alike. The added protocols and security features make this one of the safest VPN choices. The service itself is easy to use and navigate and there are a number of incredibly affordable plans. The performance is decent, though not at the high end of the spectrum.

The biggest downside of this service is that the mobile mobile apps are nowhere as sophisticated as the desktop apps and there aren’t as many setting options as many users like. Another downside is that this is not a high performance VPN, the connection times are average, but not great.

Cons

Conclusion

Choosing the right Russian VPN provider might not seem like it should take much more than choosing the most affordable option, but this is not a recommended strategy.

Not all VPN providers are created equal.

High quality providers, such as those we’ve briefly reviewed here, offer a variety of the latest security protocols, high encryption, and a variety of features that allow advanced users to better ensure the security and privacy of their data.

Knowing what you want your VPN client to do will really help in the search for the best provider.

You will want to take into account the types of security protocols used by a potential company, the number and location of their remote servers, how many devices it supports per license, the types of systems supported, security protocols, and more.

Taking the time to ensure that the service you choose has all the features that you want and need will ensure a reliable, safe, fast, and most importantly, private, connection.